HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology

HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is a research organization renowned for its expertise in genome sequencing and biotechnology education. The HudsonAlpha Genome Sequencing Center specializes in next-generation long and short read sequencing, providing high-quality genome sequencing, assembly, and analysis for plants, fungi, archaea, and algae species. The center has generated and publicly released reference genomes for over 180 plant species and is involved in de novo sequencing of both plants and animals. Utilizing advanced sequencing technologies and faster computing, the center supports large-scale studies and collaborates with numerous academic institutions, companies, and foundations globally. They have expertise in Illumina short read sequencing and PacBio long read sequencing and have contributed to the Human Genome Project, focusing on human chromosomes 5, 16, and 19. The center has also been involved in sequencing economically valuable plant species to improve crop breeding and agricultural practices, including developing reference genomes for the American chestnut and switchgrass, and analyzing the genome sequence of the common liverwort to study plant evolution. HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology also offers a variety of educational programs, including field trips, summer camps, internships, and educational kits for classroom use through partnerships with Carolina Biological Supply Company. Their CODE program engages students in authentic genomic research, and the BioTrain Internship program provides students with real-world job experience in biotechnology. The institute’s public education program, HudsonAlpha U, includes events and online resources to promote genomic literacy. HudsonAlpha conducts research in various areas including cancer, neurological diseases, psychiatric disorders, and rare and undiagnosed diseases. It houses a Center for Genomic Health and a Center for Plant Science & Sustainable Agriculture and collaborates with UAB to form the UAB/HudsonAlpha Center for Genomic Medicine.